An automated object identification and attribute acquisition system comprising
a planar light illumination and imaging subsystem (PLIIM) based linear imaging
subsystem, and a laser-based object profiling subsystem integrated within a multi-compartment
system housing. The system housing has a substantially unitary construction and
includes a first optically-isolated compartment formed in its upper deck portion
for containing the PLIIM based linear imaging subsystem and associated components
therewithin. The system housing also includes a second optically-isolated compartment
formed in its lower deck portion, disposed below the first optically-isolated compartment;
for containing the laser-based object profiling subsystem and associated components
therewithin. First and second light transmission apertures are formed in the first
optically-isolated compartment, for enabling the transmission of a planar laser
illumination beam (PLIB) from the PLIIM based linear imaging sybsystem, and towards
the object to be illuminated. A third light transmission aperture is formed in
the first optically-isolated compartment, and spatially aligned with the first
and second light transmission apertures, for enabling the field of view (FOV) of
a linear image detection array provided in the PLIIM-based linear imaging subsystem,
to project from the linear image detection array towards the illuminated object
to be imaged. A fourth light transmission aperture is formed in the second optically-isolated
compartment, and spatially distanced from the first optically-isolated compartment,
for enabling the transmission of one or more laser scanning beams from the laser-based
object profiling subsystem, towards the object being illuminated and imaged. By
virtue of the present invention, it is now possible to automatically identify a
moving object such as a package moving along a conveyor belt structure, and acquire
geometrical and surface attributes thereof, using a single integrated device of
substantially unitary construction, thereby simplifying system installation, set-up
and maintenance in diverse field of operation
